Can assembly



July 18, 1.939.

J. A. EDWARDS GAN ASSEMBLY v Filed Dec. 4, 1936 f 7 ad., 1 fl Wd ...wm 4 M 61E, n f 4 7 INVENTOR .Mmes f4. Edwards #ya .TTORr Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT olf-Fiel:A

3 Claims.

My invention relates to can assemblies, and more particularly, to a' dispensing can assembly for dispensing special lubricants.

Currently special lubricants are being used more and more. For example, modern automobile constructions are becoming more complex so that different parts require lubricants of different specications. One lubricant is used for lubricating the universal. Another lubricant is used for lubricating the gear shift and transmission, and still another lubricant is used for lubricating the motor. Some of the lubricants are what is known as extreme pressure lubricants. These are compound lubricants of many different types; some are lead soap greases, others are greases containing sulphur compounds, still others contain chlorine compounds. These lubricants are more or less viscous in nature and must therefore be dispensed through special dispensing equipment. Due to the fact that various types of lubricants are incompatible with others, the same dispensing equipment can not readily be used for dispensing various lubricants since the grease guns and other equipment must be thoroughly cleaned each time a change is made from one lubricant to another. For example, if a sulphur base lubricant were dispensed with a gun in which a soda base type lubricant had been used, excessive thickening of the second lubricant would result, making it unt for use. It has been necessary, therefore, for lling stations and garages to invest in a multiplicity of different grease guns to be used for different types of grease or lubricants.

One object of my invention is to provide a dispensing can assembly so that a large number of lubricants may be packed in their respective cans andV transferred directly to the point of application. For example, with the advent of hypoid gears in the rear ends of many modern automobiles, which gears require extreme pressure lubricants, the charge of lubricant can be like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing can comprisingfmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof a dispensing can assembly showing the dispensing tube and dispensing can in dispensing position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the dispensing can assembly shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the passage of lubricant from the-can to the point of application. v

Fig. 4Vis a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of my dispensing can assembly removed from the can.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of a dispensing can assembly showing a different embodiment of my invention. v

In general, my invention contemplates a closed container or can of any suitable size and of any suitable cross-sectional shape, though I prefer to use a generally cylindrical can. Disposed within the can is a piston made of cardboard,

fibre board, fabricoid, leather, rubberized material, or other inexpensive, slightly deformable material, The piston is disposed upon or supported by a metal follower provided with a readily detachable connection. The piston disc is such that it ts thecontainer closely, oifering frictional resistance. The piston disc and piston are interlocked. A specially designed tool comprising means for moving the piston and forming the eduction tubing through which the grease or lubricant is dispensed is adapted to be assembled with the can, so that the can will be converted into a cylinder from which the piston is Yadapted to dispense the grease.

More particularly, referring now to the drawing, a can l is of any suitable construction which will permit its seam 2 to have an interior smooth surface. Disposed in the bottom of the can l is a metal disc 3 slightly smaller in diameter than the can. The disc is provided with a U-shaped member d, the purpose of which hereinafter will be described more fully. Metal disc 3 supports the piston proper 5 which may be made out of cardboard, bre board, or 'the like, as has been already pointed out. For purposes of uniformity, I shall refer to the member 5 as the piston and the disc 3 as the piston follower. The piston 5 is formed with a central opening E of such shape that the member 4 may extend through the piston, as can readily be seen by reference to Fig. 3. It will be observed that the shape of the opening 6 is such that member 3 is precluded from relative rotation with member 5. The piston follower and piston are placed in the bottom of a can in assembled position and the can top 'I is secured in any suitable manner. It will be observed that the can top is provided with a dome 8, which is of such diameter that the member 4 may pass into it. 'I'he top of the can is provided with an opening adapted to be closed by a cover 9, which may be screwed to the upstanding flange I0, it being understood that screw threads, interrupted threads, or the like, are pressed into the flange I for co-action with similar threads formed in the cap or cover 9, as is known to the art. The can assembly which is described is adapted to be filled with grease, the piston follower 3 being at the bottom of the can and the piston being' directly on top of the piston follower, closely adjacent to the bottom of the can. The piston 5 ts the can so closely that its friction is suflicient to hold the parts at the bottom when the can is empty and before it is filled with grease. The bottom II of the can is provided with a weakened or scored portion I2. The can is then filled with lubricant and the cap or seal is Ythen placed upon the can and the lubricant is sold in a can assembled as` just described. 4

When it is desired to dispense the lubricant, the cap or cover 9 is removed and a tool comprising a tube I3 provided adjacent to its bottom with a pair of bayonet slots I 4 is threaded to the threads IE) by means of collar I5. The tube I3 is pushed downwardly until it strikes the member 4. Upon rotation, the bayonet slots I4 will align themselves with the member 4, allowing the member 4 to pass into the bayonet slots I4. Further rotation in a clockwise direction will seat the hori- Zontal cross-bar of member 4 in the slots I4. Due to the fact that piston 5 makes close contact with the interior walls of the can I, the member 4 will be locked against relative rotation, permitting the registering of the slots and the member 4, enabling the tool to be positioned as just described. The eduction tubing I3 is formed with a bent outer portion 25, which is adapted to be inserted through a filling opening, as, for example, lling opening I6 of the rear end housing Il. The can is thenpulled downwardly, forcing the lubricant I8 out of the can and up through the4 interior of eduction tubing I3, it being observedv that the bottom of the eduction tubing is spaced from the piston 5 due to the height of the horizontal portion of the member 4 above the piston 5. The attaching collar I5 is provided with a gasket I9 adapted to seal the lip of the opening of the can. A-stufling box containing packing 2D is carried by the collarI 5, the packing being seated by threaded member 2I. yThe downward motion of the can or the upward motion of the pistonwill create a partial vacuum in the space between the bottom ofthe can I2 and the piston follower 3. Air pressure of the atmosphere will-be permitted to act by this partial vacuum upon the scored portion I2, thus forming Van opening or openings in the bottom of the can, permitting air to enter as the piston moves upwardly. If desired, the bottom of the can may be punched out by means of a screw driver orother implement. The member 4 will enter the dome 8, thus permitting the piston 5 to contact the top of the can 1, making sure that substantially al1 of the lubricant will be ejected from the canby the upward movement of the piston.VV

If desired, the piston follower 3 and the piston 5 may be placed at the top of the can, the can lled with lubricant, after which the can bottom II may be sealed in place. 'I'his assembly is shown in the modification in Fig. 6, in which case the follower 3 is provided with a central opening surrounded by an upstanding iiange 22 instead of the member 4, and a scoring or weakening 23 is provided in the can top 1. The same tool assembly is employed, it being understood that the circular ilange 22 is of such depth that it will extend beyond the bayonet slot I4. In the assembly shown in Fig. 6, the eduction tube I3 is pushed downwardly,` displacing the piston downwardly and forcing the grease upwardly through the eduction tubing.Y

When the piston has reached its maximum travel and has expressed the lubricant from the can and the tool is removed, the follower will be free to fall away but the piston will remain in its position of maximum movement due to the friction between the piston and the'side walls. 'I'his will prevent the can `again being used for dispensing a diierent kind of grease, thus olering the advantages of a non-refillable can. This is of particular importance with extreme pressure lubricants, for the reasons pointed out hereinbefore, namely, that Y different types of extreme pressure lubricants can not be admixed Without causing difculty.

I prefer to employ the form ofY the invention shown in Fig, 3, since in this embodiment the piston is at the bottom of the container. In extreme pressure lubricants in which various com pounds are used, after a time in storage the blending agent being heavier than the remaining portion of the lubricant tends to settle somewhat. Since this blending agent imparts the extreme pressure characteristics, it is important that it remain in the grease going to the part to be lubricated. It will be observed that in Fig. 3 such blending agentl as may have settled will be the first to pass out of the container, so that when it reaches the point of application and is agitated by the parts being lubricated it is again thrown into suspension and will serve its important function.

The stufling box and attaching collar serves as a guide, so that the eduction tubing I3 will readily make engagement with readily attachable member 4.

It will be observed that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a can assembly from which a lubricant may be dispensed in a simple, convenient and expeditious manner, enabling filling stations and garages to carry a multiplicity of various high pressure lubricants without the necessity of buying a corresponding number of expensive dispensing devices.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference 'to other features and sub-combinations. YThis is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described. f

lHaving thusv described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A iluid container including in combination a housing adapted to contain a fluid, a discharge opening for said, housing, a readily detachable sealing means for said opening, means for attaching said sealing means for sealing said opening, a piston disposed within said housing, a piston rod, said piston being provided with means for attaching said piston rod thereto when said piston rod is inserted through said opening, said piston rod being formed with a duct therethrough for the eduction of fluid from said housing, means for sealing the outside of said piston rod and means for attaching said piston rod sealing means to said housing by said means for attaching said housing sealing means after said housing sealing means has been detached.

2. A uid container including in combination a housing adapted to contain a fluid, a discharge opening for said housing, means for attaching a sealing means to said housing, a piston means disposed within said housing, said piston being provided with an upwardly projecting member, a hollow piston rod adapted to be inserted through said discharge opening, means upon the end of said piston rod for engagement with said upwardly projecting member for attaching said piston rod to said piston, said attaching means being such that the end of said piston rod is spaced from said piston, whereby fluid may ow out through said piston rod upon movement of said piston, and means for securing said piston rod to said housing by means of said sealing means attaching means.

3. A fluid container including in combination a housing adapted to contain fluid, a discharge opening for said housing, means formed upon said housing around said discharge opening for attaching sealing means thereto, a hollow piston rod disposed within saidhousing, said piston rod being provided with sealing means therefor, means for attaching said piston rod sealing means and said housing by said housing sealing means attaching means, a piston disposed within said housing, a follower above said piston, said follower being provided With an opening, upstanding means attached to said piston and extending through said opening, said follower being larger in diameter than said piston and frictionally engaging the internal periphery of said housing, said piston rod being formed with means at its lower end for engaging said upstandng 'means the construction being such that, when said piston is moved upwardly, fluid will be expelled through said hollow piston rod and when said piston rod is detached, said piston will drop by gravity from said follower.

JAMES A. EDWARDS. 

